DKW 5

The Zschopauer Maschinenfabrik will be slow now the core of a DKW Group. There are favorable circumstances. If you already have a factory or property can borrow against this in the inflationary period until 1923, while the debt then be eaten up slowly or even quickly towards the end. In addition, the structurally weak Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains), where the policy still fears higher unemployment rates than already.

So the state gives loans, knowing well that the inflation is raging. But Germany is at this time even beneficiary of inflation because the national debt is affected positively. In any case Rasmussen with his ingenuity comes well by the difficult post-war period. Although he still can not exploit their talents fully, in addition there come two other developers. The one Emil Fischer, a specialist in the construction of small-car bodies made of wood and the other, Dr. Rudolf Slaby is discovered by Rasmussen in Berlin.

Only one person can be transported in this first electric vehicle with no roof. The power consumption of this light construction with a maximum of 25 km/h is very low, it needs relatively little battery power and only 12 cells. Also the production of this vehicle is temporarily in charge of Rasmussen, as you can see on the production output to Japan (up in the image without tyres - scarce).

You will have noticed, we are heading slowly towards the future DKW vehicles. Actually, we only need to increase the two-stroke engine and replace the batteries. But until then, there is still a long way. First of the bicycle with auxiliary engine will be just a real motorcycle, e.g. the later 125, the for Yamaha will be the base of even today still continuing success and for its reconstruction the Japanese even thank (in writing).

I almost forgot Rasmussen's travels in the United States. There were a total of three, the first 1921. Hereby the advanced production and perhaps also the advertising methods explain, with which he then begins the motorcycle manufacturing. 65 km/h creates the first lightweight motorcycle with 150 cc. If this is not the first report on the development of the automobile manufacturing, you read, you can probably guess how to make known this product. By race of course.

Rasmussen's motorcycles win not only, they are also named after the victories. Go on Audi board of management when you call thenext model 'triple-win Le Mans'? The first DKW motorcycle is called at least 'Reichsfahrmodell' after the race betweenLeipzig and Berlin. And one more note: a joint stock company will be of the Zschopauer Motorenwerken in 1923. However, the shares maintain in family ownership. 06/12